Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
During the May 6 district election, voters elected Kevin Mitchell and Royce Pindell to the board with 591 and 465 votes, respectively. Incumbent Jim Woods did not gain reelection, garnering 436 votes.
Mitchell and Pindell were both sworn onto the board during Thursday’s meeting.
Woods and outgoing board president Troy Guernsey were thanked for their efforts. Guernsey was term limited after eight years of service to the board.
“It’s been a lot of work, but enjoyable at the same time,” Guernsey said. “I wish the new board much success and hope they don’t have to go through many of the trials and tribulations we did the past several years.”
As he left the meeting room, Woods stated, “Remember it’s about the residents across the district and not what’s best for you or just a few people.”
During officer elections Jerry Sir was voted in as president, George Huntoon vice president and Dale Walden secretary/treasurer.
Attorney Brad Hill applauded the efforts of district administrator Lani Lee, paid staff and volunteers for their efforts getting the word out about the need for an increase in the mill levy that passed during the May 6 election.
District residents approved raising property taxes from 6.257 to 8.907 mills, an increase of 2.650 mills, by a vote of 511 for and 452 against.
“It was a lot of work, and Lani and all the volunteers that helped her fold and get the mail ballots sent out was greatly appreciated,” Hill said.
Guernsey, before relinquishing the gavel, added his congratulations.
“You worked hard to get the word out and it paid off,” he said. “We got a yes from the residents, but it was a very thin yes and that has to be remembered.”
Hill reminded board members the new mill levy won’t go into effect until next year and that the district still has a tight budget.
“Once we start receiving some of that, it will sure help shore up a lot of inadequacies, but we still have to spend very prudently,” Hill said. “Just because we will have a little more money coming in, we can’t spend just to spend. The people have given us more financial availability, but we have to handle it responsibly and be accountable for everything we spend. But next year we will be a little better off.”
Lee said 969 ballots were returned, a voter turnout of just over 31 percent.
“We considered the number of ballots returned very good. It seems to be much better than past elections. I think it being a mail ballot sure helped things out,” Lee said.
OTHER BIZ
Fire Chief Earl Cumley reported that automatic aid agreements have been signed with Byers, Strasburg and Sable-Alture fire departments for weed fires this summer, meaning that neighboring districts will be toned in the case of field fire. A similar agreement was being discussed with Deer Trail, but nothing specific has been finalized.
“We are also working on auto-aid for structure fires,” Cumley said.
Hill announced the district is closer to an intergovernmental agreement with Arapahoe County concerning inspection fees and county and private access roads meeting district requirements. The issue will be discussed with Arapahoe County Commissioners during a June 24 study session.
Many of the Arapahoe County roads don’t have enough all-weather road surface to prevent emergency vehicles from bogging down or getting stuck.
“We don’t have near the problem now with Adams County as we do with Arapahoe County roads,” Cumley added.
“We are a step closer than we were a month ago,” Hill said. “But we still have some work to do.”
Mitchell gave thanks to Cumley, his staff and volunteers who helped battle the blaze that totaled his almost 7,000-square foot home on Oak Park Drive near Old Victory Road April 29.
“From my standpoint it seems they had a good game plan and did everything they could to get it out as soon as possible. They worked hard and me and my family sure appreciate their efforts,” Mitchell said.
Cumley added the fire was unlike most blazes seen by his crew.
“It was such a large fire. We attacked it with everything we had, but it just kind of laughed at us,” Cumley said.
In addition, Cumley applauded his team’s efforts at the series of crashes near Watkins during a May 1 storm.
“That was tough conditions and we dealt with a fatality that makes things even more difficult,” Cumley said.
When all was said and done, seven ambulances were dispatched to the crash scene along with numerous other emergency vehicles from Aurora, Sable-Altura, Bennett and Strasburg.